[SCG] Annual Stock Corvair Event - needs to become a real event

[Bill Hubbell]

Ten years ago we founded the Stock Corvair Group (SCG) as a Special Interest Group chapter of CORSA.  We had grand plans at that time to add a special event to the CORSA annual convention to address the ongoing lack of recognition for stock vehicles.  Our Mission statement, our goals, and our detailed plans were all written and approved as part of our Chapter application and approval, and have been publicly displayed on our website ever since - http://stock.corvair.org. 

Unfortunately, we have never managed to fully realize our goal to have a formal event to showcase, evaluate, and recognize original and restored Stock cars and their owners.  Early on we had to fight to just to get on the convention schedule, and then we were relegated to parking lot meetings and half-hearted inspections.  The first year we had to do our inspections in a dark garage, out of the public eye, and in subsequent years it never got much better.  Eventually many of us got discouraged and lost interest. 

This year we were once again relegated to a parking garage, and due to poor communication, most of us did not even know where we were meeting until an hour after we were supposed to start. 

In the meantime, we have once again missed an excellent opportunity to showcase and recognize a wonderful original Corvair.  The white '63 Lambrecht Corvair, purchased by Pete Borchert, made an appearance at our convention.  I first learned of it after it went through Concours Classification.  I was upset to learn it had been classified "Modified" due to non-stock Tires, shocks, and a few other consumable items.  I have to concede that Concours was simply following their rules, whether I agree with them or not. 

The more significant lesson we should take away from this experience, however, is that CORSA does not presently have a proper venue for showcasing a car such as this at our international convention.  Concours is not the proper venue, as it is primarily a beauty contest, with reward for achievement in the elusive goal of perfection of fit and finish.  The goal of preserving originality, however, emphasizes the maintenance of fit and finish as produced by the factory.  Where Concours emphasizes shine and perfection, stock judging emphasizes the imperfections of paint overspray, factory dings, etc. 

Not to take anything away from Concours, but CORSA should also have an event to promote and recognize achievement in preserving originality, or in researching and duplicating it where preservation is not possible.

That event should be the Annual Stock Corvair Event (ASCE) as originally conceived and detailed in our Chapter Application or something of a similar nature. 

To make this event a reality, the ASCE must be elevated in importance from a chapter-sponsored event to a regular Convention event, promoted and sanctioned by CORSA as an integral part of the convention schedule.

I propose that the event be held concurrent with the Car Display (People's Choice) event, held on the same field but in a separate, designated area, open to viewing by the public. We would follow the plan already outlined in the SCG Policy for the ASCE, which includes awarding certificates of participation. 

I should note that other car clubs already have in place similar events, including:

AACA's HPOF (Historic Preservation of Original Features) class:
http://aacanorthernchapter.com/?p=51

Corvette USA's "Bloomington Gold" program: 
http://www.bloomingtongold.com/index.php/classic-events/judging/survivor-corvette 


Also, many prestigious Car shows have added survivor or preservation classes, including Pebble Beach, and Amelia Island:

http://classiccars.about.com/od/whatmakesitaclassic/fl/Survivor-and-Preservation-Class-Cars.htm

To pull this off, I would ask CORSA to support and promote the event in official convention planning and publications, and to begin recruiting members to commit to running the event for each convention.  The SCG will assist this process to the best of our ability.  However, this should become a CORSA event, not simply an SCG event. 

This event is not meant to compete in any way with Concours and nothing should preclude cars from participating in both events, should their owners so choose. 

However, to ease the burden of adding a new event to the already busy CORSA schedule, I propose initially limiting registration for the ASCE to the first 10 cars the first year, gradually increasing the number as we gain experience and confidence in the procedure. 

Please note that I have reviewed the above proposal with all current SCG officers and presented it this week to the members attending our annual SCG meeting held last night.  We are all in agreement that this is something that should happen and would be beneficial to CORSA. 

Now, we need your help.  I ask the CORSA BOD to take this to the next step - discuss it amongst yourselves, make and pass a motion to make it a reality.  I and the others included on this mailing are available to assist and answer questions to the best of our ability. 

Bill Hubbell
President, Stock Corvair Group. 

Link to ASCE policy:

http://stock.corvair.org/wordpress/about-scg/policies-2/policy-for-annual-stock-corvair-event-asce/